Lessons Learned: Mayor Hartman says events of 2020 changed lives

Posted

Looking back on 2020, West Liberty Mayor Robert Hartman has a brighter outlook on the community following the devastating events that changed the lives of residents, pointing out that citizens have come together to help one another, maybe learning valuable lessons as the city fought through not only the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, but a Derecho, a word most never knew even existed until 100-mile-an-hour winds swept through the community in August.

“It was amazing. A lot of times tragedy brings out the best and worst in people,” Hartman said, pointing out it wasn’t just city staff members that pulled together in a time of crisis, but “we came together as a human race – neighbors helping neighbors.”

“I definitely talk to my neighbors a lot more,” Hartman said, noting the storm dropped an old tree from his neighbor Jim Keefe’s property on his property and friends like Jerry Melick and others came over to help. “We got to see a great side of human nature.”

He said he was very proud of the fact the city took responsibility for helping citizens clean up the Derecho mess – usually a financial burden for the homeowner – as residents simply had to pile their debris on the curb and city crews cleared it away.

The mayor said city crews knew exactly what needed to be done in bringing power back to the town – something not many communities were able to achieve – going off the electrical grid from other power sources to fire up the city’s aging generator, putting the lights back on in five to seven hours after the storm hit. “We closed our loop (to the grid) and produced our own energy,” Hartman said. “We were very lucky to be able to use our own system to provide power. Other towns were out six, seven, eight days.”

Staff changes

Although there has been a lot of changes, city staff members have stepped up to take responsible positions like city clerk Lee Geertz, who took a temporary position as interim city manager after Lawrence McNaul left in late 2019. “Lee has really stepped up and has done an outstanding job,” Hartman said. noting there was a lot of stress and hard work in taking on both positions, some of which she is still accomplishing since the appointment of municipal consultant Elizabeth Hanson as interim city manager in June, someone the city had used from time to time as an expert in the field.

The mayor said Hanson brought some “great energy” to the city, as well as “expertise,” from getting things on track with tax increment financing options to recreating an Urban Development Plan, something that is already helping the WeLead organization create tools for businesses to improve the looks of their buildings and expand.

She’s also about to finalize Capital Improvement Plan spending that will take place in the upcoming decade, examining equipment and building needs along with improvements in the city like better streets, sidewalks and parks. “Our projects will be on a path to complete the process,” he said.

The mayor said he didn’t want to see the exit of Jeremy Burdess as police chief but said the department is solid and Dave Lira has always done a good job as interim police of chief, his only drawback the fact he doesn’t live in the community, a new requirement.

WeLead’s new director, Joe Taylor, is also making a lot of progress according to the mayor, noting he has a tough job building economic development for the community.

Fulfilling housing needs

The mayor admits a huge need in the community he talked about a year ago – more housing – was put on the back burner because of COVID-19 as well as city leadership, but has high hopes for 2021, with two developments on the brink of coming together on the northeast side of the community.

Not only is the city moving forward on a pared-down Dutton development north of the Dutton Sports Complex, but there may be a second development in the works on just over nine acres of farmland by a local family just north of Subway and East Rainbow Street, possibly opening up single family homes and multi-home growth opportunities according to Brad Akers, a local real estate developer.

Along with an apartment development coming together by business developer Deepak Giri on the southeast edge of the city, opportunities for new families moving into the community are growing.

That doesn’t count a possible expansion of the nearly completed Prairie View subdivision on the north edge of the city owned by Dave Devorak.

The mayor says that’s vital for the community, noting developers and investors indicate they’d like to see the city reach 5,000 in population in the next five to 10 years, growing from it’s present 3,800 citizens. He said business, industry and housing developers look at a city a little differently when it reaches that level.

“COVID definitely caused a pause in developments,” he said, noting developers seem to be much more optimistic about 2021 with hope of the pandemic getting under control. In the meanwhile, the city has set a lot of positive things into place, from funding a sewer line lift station in the area to promising to rebuild the approximately three-quarter mile of East Rainbow to Dutton Park and the Simpson complex. The city also set an ordinance that new developments need to create “green space” within their boundaries.

Big savings at sewer plant

The city also had some great savings in running their own sewer plant, an idea of the former city manager, estimated at about $1 million annually, by training and certifying staff members like Craig Jorgenson rather than hiring out the service.

The city is also looking at firing up it’s “Well #2,” after a series of testing of the old well proved positive results, giving the community and its largest industry, West Liberty Foods, a badly needed additional source for water. “That will help us save money,” Hartman said, noting fresh water is going to be the new “gold” in the future.

Danny Goodale was appointed the new water superintendent after the retirement of George Pearl after 39 years serving the city.

The city’s electric department, run by Ed Tvrs, is changing over its street lights to LED bulbs to save on money and maintenance, pointed out the city has a new street sweeper that was bought this year as well as a sewer back camera truck for cleaning lines while the city also updated GIS maps with the county. City employees are also getting customer service training, updated job descriptions and annual reviews.

Hartman said the city has started putting aside money for a new aquatic center to possibly replace the century old pool in Kimberly Park, something the city continues to rehab.

He said getting the new playground at Kimberly Park was a feather in the hat of the community and said more recreation will be enhanced this year with a $60,000 revamping of Friendship Park on the south side of the city.

The mayor said the park department is working out details for a splash pad and zero entry levels for the present pool area, but says the costs are enormous. “It’s a quality of life thing,” said the mayor, noting the city has never made money on the pool, trying to keep costs low so more people in the community could enjoy the facility. He complimented Nick Heath for his work in fundraising and finding grants to help recreation in the community.

He also has a tree-growing program to replace trees in the community, many of which have been cut down through the past few years because of an ash borer problem.

Rates and fees for residents was another discussion with the mayor, noting the city needs to look at all the rates they’re charging, now doing a study – something that hasn’t been done for at least six years.

Hartman said while he favors gradual rate increases in things like electric, water and sewer rates and rubbish fees, the city may have to ask residents for more from their pocketbook, but hopes the increases can be more gradual. He said those fees go toward city improvements and upgrades and said the studies will compare rates with similar size communities.

City hall upgrade set

Remodeling city hall, the Waldo C. Myers building, on the corner of Fourth Street and Calhoun, is another project the city is taking on in 2021, noting it will be done in several stages including moving the police department and administration offices in the first phase while the council chambers and city services will be part of the second phase, all anticipated to cost in the range of $300,000-350,000.

The mayor said he’d love to see more joint projects with the school district, especially recreationally, and noted the city is always working with West Liberty Foods to make sure they continue providing jobs and tax revenues.

Hartman said COVID-19 has also put the Lady of Liberty statue dedication on hold although the rehab of the statue is completed on the northeast side of city hall. He said that’s another thing the city hopes to accomplish in 2021.

All in all, the city looking forward to 2021, according to Hartman, hoping lessons learned from a difficult 2020 will help create a better West Liberty in the future.

Comments